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H. ANDERSON. INDEX PLATE EUR TYPE WRITING MACHINES.

(Model.)l

Patented May 19, 1885.

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Wboess N. Pzmzs. Pmwumgnbbar, washing uc.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOMER ANDERSON, OF PEEKSKILL, NEW YORK.

INDEX-PLATE FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part. of Letters Patent No. 318,077, dated May 19, 1885.

Application filed February 18, 1884. (Model.)

To @ZZ whom it may concern.-

Beit known that I, HOMER ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peekskill, in the county of lVestchester and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Index-Plates for Type-Vriting Machines, of which the following is a speciiication. Y

My invention relates to the class of typewriters in which a pointer or stylus is used for selecting, in an index-plate, the letters to be printed, and the object of my improvements is to facilitate the reading of letters and characters lying within perforations in index-plates that are made of dark-colored substances and to make possible the use of such plates in dimly-lighted places. I attain this object by the means described in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l represents a section of a typewriter, showing the use of such an index-plate. Fig. 2 shows an index-plate recessed on its under side to receive an index-card, and Fig. 3 illustrates a form of tube bearing the indexletter to be inserted in the perforations in the index-plate.

Referring to Fig. 1, which shows a part of what is known as the Hall type-writer,77 A is a handle, carrying a pointer, a. This handle is capable of being moved about, so that thepointer may be inserted in any of the holes c in the index-plate B. These holes represent numerals, punctuation-marks, capital and small letters, or other characters to be printed. The holes in the plate are too close together to admit of the letters or signs being placed on the surface of the plate, so

a card, b, containing the letters and signs, is

placed under the index-plate, the characters on the card corresponding with the perforations in the plate. The holes being a quarter of an inch orso in depth, and t-he plates being made of a dark-colored material, the signs do not show clearly in the shadows. They were used in this way, however, until I devised the plan of coloring the walls of the holes white or other light-reflecting color, which makes a remarkable improvement in the appearance of the signs on the card. 5o

For the purposes of ornament, and to assist learners in locating the characters, I have varied the coloring in this way. Line of holes 1 contains numerals, and the perforations are gilded. Line 2 contains punctuation-marks, 55 and the holes are made white. Lines 3 4 5 contain capital letters, and are gilded. The remaining lines contain small letters, and the holes are made white. This alternating of color may be made as whim, taste, or convenience may dictate.

I have used white-paper tubing inserted in the holes instead of coloring-matter. The holes may be enameled or coated with luminous paint. They may often beof use in the dark, and especially in dimly-lighted places. I have also placed the indeX- letter on the sides of the perforations, as shown in the paper tube represented by Fig. 3. When so used, the card, or whatever forms the bottom 7o of the perforation, should be of light reflecting or absorbing substance. The object of thus placing the letter is to avoid the necessity for peering down into the hole to see it.

In securing the index-plate B with its card b to the table C, the card is held in place by the same screws that secure the platenamely, e e. To change types from English to Spanish, for instance, the characters of the two differing somewhat, and being differ- 8o ently disposed, the index-cards must also be changed. To do this, screws e e must be removed. Itis essential that the index-plate be kept parallel with the type-form beneath the table C, and if there is any looseness of the screws e e, the index-plate will rarely be properly secured. To avoid loosening these screws, I cut a recess in the under side oithe index-plate. just large enough to allow the card to be pushed within, leaving an edge of 9c the card projecting to aid in withdrawing it,

or providing the edge of the card with a metallic catch to facilitate handling it, as illustrated.

Having thus described myinventiomwhat I on the Walls of the perforations in the plate, Io elairn7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent, substantially as described.

is- 3. An index-plate for type-Writers Charged 1. An indeX-plate for type-Writers illumior coated with luminous paint, for the pur- 5 gated by the application of ligl1t-eolored subposes herein set forth.

stances, substantially in the manner and for HOMER ANDERSON. the purpose described. l Witnesses:

STEPHEN LENT, D. S. HERRIOK.

2. An illuminated index plate for typewriters having the letters or signs marked 

